Typical Interview Questions and Answers

Transcription

1 Typical Interview Questins and Answers Why d yu want t wrk fr this cmpany? Why are yu interested in this jb? The interviewer is trying t determine what yu knw and like abut the cmpany, whether yu will be willing t make a cmmitment t the jb, and if yur skills match the jb requirements. Yur research will be a big help in frmulating yur answer t this questin. Say as many psitive things abut the cmpany as pssible, shw yur interest in whatever prducts/services they sell and explain why the psitin fits with yur career gals. Have yu dne this kind f wrk befre? The interviewer wants t knw if yu can learn t d the jb in a reasnable time and hw much training yu will need. Never say "n" t this questin. Instead, stress the experience yu d have that will assist yu in learning the new jb quickly and efficiently. N tw jbs are alike and yu never d exactly the same wrk. In all jbs, new skills, rules and details have t be learned. Be sure t mentin the fllwing: Yur past wrk experience. Yur educatin and training related t the jb. Vlunteer wrk that might relate t the jb. Any transferable skills - e.g. rganizatinal skills, peple skills. Yur ability t learn quickly and hw quickly yu learned that type f wrk in the past. What kind f training r qualificatins d yu have? The interviewer is trying t find ut what schl credentials yu have. If yu have n frmal schl qualificatins but have a lt f experience, yu might say: I didn't get frmal schl training fr this jb but I have (number) f years f experience in the field. I'm willing t learn new skills r g t schl t get further training if I am ffered the jb. I learn quickly and I like t keep upgrading my skills. If yu have just cmpleted a training curse but have little wrk experience, yu mightsay: I tk a ne year training prgram in (name f prgram) at (name f schl) which is related t the jb I'm applying fr. I lk frward t wrking in the field and putting

2 int practice what I learned. I dn't have a lt f wrk experience in this area but I learn quickly. I knw yu will be happy with my wrk. Tell me abut yurself. Why shuld we hire yu? The interviewer is trying t find ut abut yu, yur jb skills and hw well yu express yurself. D nt dwell n persnal issues. State yur best qualificatins fr the jb. Be specific and include examples t supprt yur statements. Try t shw that yu meet the emplyer's expectatins. Fr example: I am punctual, dependable and can be cunted upn t finish what I start. I get a great deal f satisfactin frm knwing that I have dne smething well and n time. Fr example, at my present jb, I was given different wrk rders every day. It was my respnsibility t finish the rders and make sure they all met quality and safety standards within a specific deadline. On ccasin, I had t familiarize myself with the prduct and the prductin prcess. I was always able t learn quickly and carry ut my jb respnsibilities. Our cmpany was knwn fr making excellent prcessed fd prducts. In 1990, it received an award fr being n f Canada's tp cmpanies in the field. I feel I can use the same skills and hard wrk t d well n this jb t. What d yu d in yur spare time? Interviewers ask this questin t see if yur activities and hbbies might help the cmpany and t get an idea f what kind f persn yu are utside yur wrk life. Describe any vlunteer wrk yu d and any hbbies r interests that might relate t the jb in sme way. Stick t active hbbies, such as playing sprts, carpentry,gardening, etc. Avid mentining inactive and nn-creative activities such as watching televisin. What d yu think f wrking in a grup? The interviewer is trying t find ut abut yur ability t get alng with thers.fcus n the fllwing: The advantages f wrking in a grup. Explain hw the varius individuals in a grup cmplement ne anther in carrying ut certain tasks. Give specific examples f yur persnal experience in a grup Hw d yu react t instructin and criticism? The interviewer is trying t find ut hw yu get alng with Supervisrs and hw yu feel abut authrity. Yu might say: I appreciate getting instructin and criticism when it is dne fairly and cnstructively. With the kind f wrk experience yu have had, d yu think this jb wuld bre yu?

3 The interviewer may think yu are ver-qualified and want this jb nly until smething better cmes alng. Stress that n jb is ever bring because yu always learn new skills. Mentin hw yu wuld benefit by wrking fr the cmpany and vice versa. Why did yu chse this line f wrk? The interviewer is trying t find ut abut yur cmmitment t yur career chice. In ther wrds d yu d it because yu lve the wrk r just take any jb yu can get fr the mney. If yu did this wrk fr many years and stpped due t a layff,yu might say: I have dne this fr (number) f years. I like my wrk. The nly reasn I left my last wrkplace was because I was laid ff. Hw well d yu wrk under pressure r tight deadlines? This questin indicates that the jb yu're applying fr will invlve wrking under pressure. Give examples f vlunteer and paid wrk that invlved pressure and deadlines. Yu culd mentin that we are always faced with pressure and deadlines in ur lives and yu d nt mind the stress. Stressful situatins are a learning and challenging experience. Yu might mentin the fllwing: Hw yu handled large rush rders at yur last wrkplace. Hw yu prepared fr exams and hmewrk assignments while wrking full-time and attending schl part-time. Hw yu managed a crisis situatin. (Fr example: a car accident) Hw ften were yu absent frm wrk in yur last jb? Have yu every had any serius illness r injuries? D yu have any health prblems? The interviewer is trying t find ut if yu have any health issues which will cause yu t take a lt f sick days. Yu d nt have t g int yur health histry fr the interviewer. If yu have health prblems that d nt interfere with yur wrk perfrmance, d nt give the interviewer details abut them. If yu had a previus health prblem that interfered with yur wrk in the past, but is n lnger a prblem, d nt vlunteer this infrmatin. It n lnger affects yur wrk, therefre the emplyer des nt have t knw. If yu have a health prblem that will affect yur wrk perfrmance, explain yur situatin briefly and stress the psitive pints. I will be helpful t have a psitive reference letter frm yur previus emplyer. This letter shuld explain the type f duties yu did and stress that yu are a steady wrker wh is respnsible, hardwrking and punctual.

4 Are yu bndable? This questin indicates that the jb invlves wrking with mney r valuable merchandise. Very likely the emplyer's insurance cmpany requires that nly bndable peple be hired as a cnditin f their insurance plicy.as lng as yu d nt have a criminal recrd, and yu have nt previusly been denied a bnd, yu shuld answer "yes" t this questin. Cautin: If yu answer yes when yu are nt legally bndable it is very likely that the emplyer will discver this. Have yu ever been fired r quit a jb? The interviewer is lking fr clues t any prblems yu have had in previus jbs and if yu may have the same prblems in a new jb. Try t: Avid saying anything negative abut yurself r yur previus emplyer. If yu had prblems, explain them withut being negative. Be careful nt the use the wrd "fired" r "quit". Instead use wrds such as: "I changed jbs", "I was laid ff", r "I needed a mre challenging jb". If yu were fired and are nt n gd terms with yur previus emplyer, explain the reasn why yu were fired. Stress that yu learned smething frm the previus situatin. Why haven't yu wrked recently? The interviewer is lking fr clues t serius prblems r jb difficulties that culd carry ver t a new jb. Yu might say: Since I was laid ff frm my previus emplyer, I have been actively lking fr a jb. Hwever, as yu knw, there are many peple lking fr wrk and applying fr the same jbs. I have always wrked steadily but I haven't been able t find a jb in the present jb market. After I gt laid ff frm my previus emplyer, I decided t g back t schl t upgrade my skills s I can get a better, mre secure jb. What are yur lng-term gals r career plans? The interviewer may want t knw if yu are ambitius, plan ahead, r if yu set gals fr yurself. The interviewer may als want t knw what expectatin yu have f the cmpany. Yu might say: I hpe t becme very gd at my jb and perhaps take sme chling t becme mre skilled in my field f wrk.

5 I intend t learn (name f area r skills) very well s that I can be prmted t a higher psitin in (name skill r department). What d yu feel are yur greatest strengths? This is yur pprtunity t brag a little bit. It is imprtant that yu have dne yur research abut the type f wrk that yu are applying fr. Fr example if yu are applying as a prductin laburer and frm yur research yu understand that this type f wrk required peple that have the ability t meet qutas, wrk as a team and make imprvement suggestins, then it is imprtant fr yu t incrprate this int yur strengths. My greatest strength is that I have a lt f initiative. I am always lking fr a better way t d things at wrk that I feel wuld save the cmpany mney and I can always achieve my prductin qutas. Fr example ne time I was wrking at my statin and I felt that I was wasting time by always having t walk t the ther side f my statin t get sme parts. S I rerganized the statin and my supervisr was really impressed as it increased my quta. What d yu feel are yur weaknesses? Yu never want t give any indicatin f any weaknesses that yu have. Turn yu weaknesses int strengths by wrking it t the emplyer's advantage. I am the type f persn r is very hard n myself. I am always expecting myself t d a little bit mre. Hwever, I guess this wrks ut well fr my emplyer. Or I never like t leave wrk until I have every thing finished cmpletely. Smetimes this bthers me but I feel inside that it is imprtant. Or I am the type f persn wh always takes my wrk hme with me. This smetimes interferes with my persnal life but I feel that wrk cmes first.

6 Hw wuld yu describe yur last emplyer? Never run dwn r say anything negative abut anybdy r anyne. The emplyer will feel that yu will d it t them. Yu shuld state the psitive things such as he had high expectatins and I really respected him fr that. He was dwn t earth and really knew the jb I was ding, if I had any prblems he was apprachable and wuld always give me suggestin r he gave the respnsibility t d a gd jb. I liked my emplyer. He/she treated me fairly and respected my wrk Or: I appreciated my previus emplyer having given me the pprtunity t acquire a lt f skills and experiences in (name area f wrk skill). What five wrds wuld be describe yu? These shuld be yur transferrable skills such as reliable, punctual, rganized,friendly, hnest, cperative, utging, easy t get alng with, hardwrking,energetic, take pride in my wrk, respnsible, respected,dedicated. What did yu like abut yur last jb? Say nly psitive things that yu feel culd transfer acrss t the psitin yur are applying fr. I liked my last jb because I gt alng well with my c-wrkers and the wrk was challenging, fast paced and I was given a lt f respnsibility t d a gd jb. Why did yu leave yur last psitin? Keep this answer simple. If yu were laid ff simply say s, If yur cmpany dwnsized, simply say s. D nt g int a lt f detail. If yu were terminated yu will have t say yu were let g but always fllw up that as a result yu have learned hw t vercme this and feel it will nt affect yu in the future. What are yur lng range gals?

7 The interviewer is trying t figure ut whether r nt yu are ging t be a lng term emplyee r whether r nt yu will be using this jb as a stepping stne t anther bjective. S, yu shuld try t assure him/her that yur intentin is t stay with the cmpany and t grw in yur career within the cmpany. Yu shuld respnd "I am lking fr a psitin with a cmpany where I can stay and grw with and I feel this psitin wuld give me this pprtunity." What kind f machines r equipment have yu wrked with? This is yur pprtunity t give sme detail f what actual wrk skills yu have. Dn't be vague, supply all f the infrmatin that yu have t ffer. What type f salary are yu lking fr? D nt get int this subject unless yu are frced t. Even then yu want t leave an impressin that yu are flexible in this area. What d yu knw abut ur cmpany? This is yur pprtunity t shw them that yu have taken the time t research their cmpany in particular. D yu have any ther skills f experiences that we have nt discussed? List any ther skills that yu have that are related t the psitin. Yu can als discuss any hbbies r vlunteer experience yu have and discuss any interest curses r educatinal upgrading yu have.